Status renewal/extension/gifting due to medical reasons

[Josh]

Hi all,

I'd like to get your thoughts on my situation. I currently have 941 SCs, and am looking to retain WP. My membership year ends 31 Dec.
I currently have a trip booked to South Africa in J with the wife, and this would usually get me the SCs I require to retain (I'm very careful with planning this out every year).
Unfortunately, a few weeks back, my wife was diagnosed with cancer, and will have to undergo chemotherapy for the next 4-5 months. This will obviously mean a cancellation of this trip, leaving me short. (Yes, I know renewing WP is not hugely important in light of what my wife (in particular) and I are currently facing, but still).
I could up this by about 80 (using green tier and the current earn on ground promotion), so I'd be about 179 short.
Has anyone had experience with any kind of compassionate policy QFF may have for situations like this? I won't be back to flying for likely 12 months because of this situation, and would like to either get gifted the renewal, or ideally, my membership year extended for 12 months.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[fletty]

Sorry to hear about your circumstances.

There's an existing thread which covers this a bit, it's possible to have a one time extension if you have earned enough SC in your membership year (which you probably have).

R

Thread 'Pay Points to Extend Qantas Status'

Sep 13, 2018

Looks like I'm going to fall around 280 credits short of retaining Platinum this year and will drop back to (lifetime) Gold for the first time in 10 years. Qantas rang today to offer me 12 more months Platinum for 120,000 points (just over 50% of my current balance) and I declined as I won't be flying as much as I used to over the next 12 months.

Has anyone had a better offer than 120k points? I've probably got 12-15 domestic return trips ahead of me over the next 12 months (80% of them in the next 3 months) and I just don't think it's worth it.

• readyone
• Replies: 260
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

 

[kpc]

Speak to Qf...they are quite understanding. They probably will require a medical letter though confirming your wife's illness. I wish her and you all the best in the cancer treatment.

 

[Seat0B]

Sorry to hear of these circumstances @Josh, and sending best wishes for you and your wife.

My experience is a bit older now, but when I had. Knee replacement and could not travel for several months in 2016, QF would not offer support to retain Platinum. They expressly said only for new parents, which I thought was pretty mean. Then in 2018 my father died unexpectedly 10 days before my major business class overseas trip that would have sen me retain Platinum and they again refused any courtesy extension. At the time I had been P1 three times and WP every year for over 10 years, and they still said no.

It may be different now, and I certainly hope it is, but I offer my personal experiences of QF’s lack of compassion to help you temper your expectations. You already have a lot on, so don’t waste too much emotional energy on this. I’d try for compassionate extension, then for pay points if it matters that much, and then let it go. You will soft land to Gold which is not too terrible, and may not have too much trouble making the extra 200 SC needed to requal back to WP if you can get a DSC offer.

All the best to you both.

PS I have leukaemia, currently in remission, so I now the headspin associated with the diagnosis stage and the sapping nature of chemo first hand. Reach out by DM if you need a shoulder to lean on.